WRESTLING: Mat master

Havelock’s Ryan Davis is built like most other high-quality wrestlers.He is compact and concrete, getting the most out of all the muscle his body can hold.

Jordan Honeycutt, Sun Journal Staff

HAVELOCK — Havelock’s Ryan Davis is built like most other high-quality wrestlers.

He is compact and concrete, getting the most out of all the muscle his body can hold.

Davis started the season competing in the 138-pound division and was doing fine, with a 16-4 record, but like most top level competitors, Davis wants to be the best.

After coaches Pat Whitford and Chase Holloman looked at the rankings, it was suggested to Davis that he move down a weight class to 132.

The youngster agreed to the move and he went 9-0 at this past weekend’s Bighorn duals meet in Havelock.

Davis also competed at the prestigious Tiger Invitational (Chapel Hill) and WRAL Invitational (Raleigh), which are widely considered as the state’s top tournaments each year.

He placed second at the Tiger and third in the WRAL.

“I just think moving down to 132 is the best for me as far as strength goes,” Davis said.

“The dual tournaments are good for just being able to have a lot of matches and get my record up and ranking up. My minimum goal this season is to finish in the top four at states and maximum goal is obviously to win the states.”

Whitford has seen Davis grow year-by-year during his time at Havelock.

“Ryan has trained hard the way an athlete should and put on about 10-15 pounds of muscle each year and it has paid off for him,” Whitford said.

“He was 112 pounds as a freshman, 120 as a sophomore and now 132 as a junior. He has a high level of commitment, which it takes to be good in wrestling.”

Davis has played all sports throughout his life including football and baseball, but was mostly drawn to the mat by his older brother Ray, who placed sixth at states during his time at Havelock as a 145-pounder, and his father Raymond.

“Wrestling I love because it is just all about you. No coaches or teammates to blame. If something gets done or doesn’t get done, it is on you,” Davis said.

“I used to enjoy watching my brother wrestle and I just want to be like him and be better than he was.”

The Rams host Washington in a Coastal Conference match Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

Jordan Honeycutt can be reached at 252-635-5670 or at Jordan.Honeycutt@newbernsj.com. Follow Jordan on Twitter @JHONEYnbsj29

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